Stiffener for caps



July 15, 1924. 1,501,507

C. E. WETHERBEE STIFFENER FOR CAPS Filed Feb. 28. 1923 Patented July 15, 1924.

- CAROLYN E. wnrr-rnaisnn, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STIFFENER FOR cArs.

Application filed February 28, 1923; Serial No. 621,943.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAROLYN E. WVETHER- man, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Stiffener for Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device to; be placed in the front part of the crown of a cap for stiffening the same and holding it up so as to prevent the forwardly projecting cloth of the cap falling down in front and to keep it in proper position.

The principal object of the invent-ion is to provide a simple, light and inexpensive device for accomplishing the above mentioned result. The invention also involves means extending back in the cap to hold the front up and means whereby the device can be attached in a simple way to the cap so that it will not get out of place.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a cap partly in central section showing a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the attachment showing its connection with the cap; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the attachment on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

It is well known that when caps of the general type shown in Fig. 1 are purchased they are provided with a roll of paper inside to hold the cap up in proper position and prevent its sagging down in front. These are put in in order to keep the caps in shape while being displayed and sold and sometimes are worn in the cap but they are unsatisfactory because of lack of uniformity and if nough paper is used to really keep the cap in good position it forms a large wad in the cap and after a while it gets broken up and the pieces tend to drop out.

This invention is designed to provide a simple device which will be light anddurable and can be applied once for all when the cap is put on sale or after it is purchased and will remain in proper position as long as the cap lasts. In its preferred form, it comprises a piece of light sheet celluloid molded into a form in which it has a convex bottom portion 10 adapted to rest on the inside of the cap just over the top of the visor and projecting outwardly at 11 at the rear to limit its position against the binding 12 of the cap. It extends upwardly at 13 to form a substantially vertical wall curved at the to and bottom and also at the two ends. This is to support the front of the cap. It then projects backwardly in the form of a continuous shelf 14 toward the rear which will support the cap if it drops down on it but is out of the way at all times. By making it continuous it constitutes a single shelf, no part of which can be depressed materially unless it is subjected to considerable pressure.

The above description is applied espe cially to the center of the device. It extends backwardly at both ends from the center on a gentle curve being provided with two horns 15 extending rearwardly and formed of the sheet celluloid bent over into convex shape. These provide relatively stiff supports for connection with the cap by means of a paper fastener 16, pin or any other fastening device, which is extended through the lining for this purpose. The shelf 1a is separated from these horns slightly by a pair of slits 17 to permit some freedom of the shelf 14.

The manner of placing this in position will be obvious. It is secured in place by the fasteners 16 and need cause no trouble thereafter as it will always retain its shape and keep the top of the cap in place. It is of light weight so that the wearer will not feel that he is carrying around any heavy material and it is strong and durable.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. An article for the purpose described comprising 'a continuous curved body of sheet material adapted to be applied to the front of a cap inside above the visor to hold the cap in position and projecting on agentle curve outwardly at both ends terminate ing in a pair of hollow curve-d conical horns fitting inside the cap.

2. As an article of manufacture, a cap stiffener comprising a curved continuous convex body of sheet celluloid adapted to be applied to the inside of the cap over the visor to hold the same in position and extending upwardly along the front and then backwardly, and projecting on a gentle curve outwardly at both ends terminating in a pair of parallel horns fitting inside the cap, and means for fastening said horns to the lining of the cap at both ends.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cap stiffener comprising a curved convex body of sheet material adapted to be applied to the front of the cap to hold the same in position and extending upwardly along the front and then backwardly to provide a sub stantially flat shelf at the top projecting backwardly to support the top of the cap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CAROLYN E. YVETHERBEE. 

